Two boys, three others held as navy smashes robbery gang

A gang that specialised in recruiting children to burgle homes in Kirikiri-Ojo, Lagos has been smashed by the Navy.

Five members were arrested and handed over to the police.

According to the Commander NNS WEY, Commodore Ignatius Ilaiya, they were arrested after two of the teenagers sent to break into people’s homes were intercepted by Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) WEY personnel at Navy Town, Ojo.

The teenagers, aged13 and 15, told The Nation that they have been stealing for the group since last year.

The duo said they were intimidated and beaten by the older members to start stealing.

The teenagers confessed to have stolen N50,000, N40,000, N12,000, N7, 000 and N5, 000 from the barracks and a motorcycle and a television set which they handed over to the others, who usually gave them N1, 000 after each operation.

The 13-year-old said they used razor blades to cut mosquito nets on doors and windows to gain entry.

He said: “We are four children in my family and I am from Edo State. My mother sells recharge card. These brothers (pointing at the other suspects) were the ones who forced me to start stealing.

“Everytime they would come to our house and they would be beating me. They said they will injure me if I refused to steal and that if I tell anybody they will deal with me.

“That is how they used to beat us and they would take us to waterside and be teaching us how to enter someone’s house and steal.

“I have been stealing since last December. I have stolen N50,000, N40,000, N12,000, N7,000 and N5000. We give everything we stole to them and they will give us N1000 each.

“I usually jump fence around 6pm to check if people are around. I was coming to meet my second (the 15-year-old) who was already inside before I was arrested that day. It is my second who usually uses blade to tear nets and we enter the house.

“My parents do not know that I steal. I used to leave when my mother gives me money to go and buy food and I will go home late and tell them I was in my friend’s house. They do not complain whenever I go home late and I did not tell anyone that I was being forced to steal because they said they will deal with me.”

His second said he started stealing last December 31, after “several beatings from the adults.”

“Papa Afeez usually takes us to waterside and teach us how to steal. Initially when we refused, they would come to our house and be beating us. He warned us not to tell anyone. We have stolen money many times and also television and motorcycle.

“I use blades to cut nets to enter people’s houses. Most times too, when we discover some people did not lock their doors, we enter their houses and steal. I do not like stealing but had to do it out of fear. They usually wait for us at the back of the fence while we go inside and steal. After stealing, we meet them at the back of the fence, give them everything and they will give us N1000 each,” he said.

Ilaiya said the children were arrested when a Naval patrol team within the barracks suspected their movements and called them for questioning.

He said people had been complaining about their homes being burgled, prompting the base to take measures to avert a recurrence.

“The suspects confessed they were in the barracks to do reconnaissance so that when they return in the night to execute their plan. Through interrogation, it was discovered that they are members of a syndicate at Kirikiri. From their confessions, three others including the man who buys stolen items from them were arrested, while a certain Tonton and one Blast are currently on the run. Also the elder brother of one of the suspects, who they also claimed is a member was said to be in Badagry. Efforts are being made to also investigate and arrest him,” Ilaiya said.